Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततः प्रायाद्विदुरोऽश्वैरुदारै;र्महाजवैर्बलिभिः साधुदान्तैः बलान्नियुक्तो धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा; मनीषिणां पाण्डवानां सकाशम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thus commanded against his will by king Dhritarashtra, Vidura started for (the palace of) the wise Pandavas by means of quiet and patient horses of best species, possessing great speed and strength.
सोऽभिपत्य तदध्वानमासाद्य नृपतेः पुरम् प्रविवेश महाबुद्धिः पूज्यमानो द्विजातिभिः
M. N. Dutt: The greatly intelligent (Vidura) proceeded by the way leading to the city of the Pandavas; and having arrived there, he, being duly worshipped by the Brahmanas, entered the city.
स राजगृहमासाद्य कुबेरभवनोपमम् अभ्यगच्छत धर्मात्मा धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्
M. N. Dutt: Coming to the royal palace which was like the palace of Kubera, the virtuous minded (Vidura) went to the son of Dharma, Yudhishthira.
तं वै राजा सत्यधृतिर्महात्मा; अजातशत्रुर्विदुरं यथावत् पूजापूर्वं प्रतिगृह्याजमीढ;स्ततोऽपृच्छद्धृतराष्ट्रं सपुत्रम्
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious and enemiless descendant of Ajamida, ever devoted to truth, reverentially saluted Vidura and asked him about the welfare of Dhritarashtra and his sons.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच विज्ञायते ते मनसो न प्रहर्षः; कच्चित्क्षत्तः कुशलेनागतोऽसि कच्चित्पुत्राः स्थविरस्यानुलोमा; वशानुगाश्चापि विशोऽपि कच्चित्
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O Khattwa, your mind seems to be cheerless. Do you come in peace? Are the sons (of Dhritarashtra) obedient to their old father? Are the people obedient to his (Dhritarashtra's) rule?
विदुर उवाच राजा महात्मा कुशली सपुत्र; आस्ते वृतो ज्ञातिभिरिन्द्रकल्पैः प्रीतो राजन्पुत्रगणैर्विनीतै;र्विशोक एवात्मरतिर्दृढात्मा
M. N. Dutt: Vidura said The illustrious king with his sons is well. Surrounded by his relatives, he reigns like Indra. O king, the illustrious monarch is happy with his sons who are all obedient to him. But he is bent upon his own aggrandisement.
इदं तु त्वां कुरुराजोऽभ्युवाच; पूर्वं पृष्ट्वा कुशलं चाव्ययं च इयं सभा त्वत्सभातुल्यरूपा; भ्रातॄणां ते पश्य तामेत्य पुत्र
M. N. Dutt: The Kuru king has commanded me first to enquire after your peace and prosperity, and then to tell you on his behalf the following. (He says to you), "The Assembly-hall of your cousin (built by me) is equal to your Sabha. Therefore, (come) and see it.
समागम्य भ्रातृभिः पार्थ तस्यां; सुहृद्द्यूतं क्रियतां रम्यतां च प्रीयामहे भवतः संगमेन; समागताः कुरवश्चैव सर्वे
M. N. Dutt: O son of Pritha, coming there enjoy the palace and play a friendly match at dice with your cousins. We shall be very happy at your arrival, so will be all the Kurus assembled there."
दुरोदरा विहिता ये तु तत्र; महात्मना धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा तान्द्रक्ष्यसे कितवान्संनिविष्टा;नित्यागतोऽहं नृपते तज्जुषस्व
M. N. Dutt: O king, you will see there all those gamblers, those cheats who have been brought there by the illustrious king Dhritarashtra. I have come here for this. Let the king's command be approved by you.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच द्यूते क्षत्तः कलहो विद्यते नः; को वै द्यूतं रोचयेद्बुध्यमानः किं वा भवान्मन्यते युक्तरूपं; भवद्वाक्ये सर्व एव स्थिताः स्म
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said o Khattwa, gambling may produce quarrel. Knowing this, who is there who will consent to gamble? What do you think proper for us to do? We are all obedient to your advice,
विदुर उवाच जानाम्यहं द्यूतमनर्थमूलं; कृतश्च यत्नोऽस्य मया निवारणे राजा तु मां प्राहिणोत्त्वत्सकाशं; श्रुत्वा विद्वञ्श्रेय इहाचरस्व
M. N. Dutt: Vidura said I know gambling is the root of all misery. I tried to dissuade the king from it. The king, however, has sent me to you. O learned man, knowing all this, do what is good.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच के तत्रान्ये कितवा दीव्यमाना; विना राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रैः पृच्छामि त्वां विदुर ब्रूहि नस्ता;न्यैर्दीव्यामः शतशः संनिपत्य
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Besides the sons of king Dhritarashtra who are the other dishonest gamblers that are present there to play? O Vidura, I ask you, tell us who are the men with whom we shall have to play staking hundreds upon hundreds.
विदुर उवाच गान्धारराजः शकुनिर्विशां पते; राजातिदेवी कृतहस्तो मताक्षः विविंशतिश्चित्रसेनश्च राजा; सत्यव्रतः पुरुमित्रो जयश्च
M. N. Dutt: Vidura said. O king, expert in dice, with great skill of hand, even desperate at stakes the Gandhara king, Shakuni, Vivingshati, Chitrasena, king Satyavrata, Purumitra and Jaya (these are present there).
युधिष्ठिर उवाच महाभयाः कितवाः संनिविष्टा; मायोपधा देवितारोऽत्र सन्ति धात्रा तु दिष्टस्य वशे किलेदं; नादेवनं कितवैरद्य तैर्मे
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said It appears that some of the most desperate and terrible gamblers who always depend on deceit (in their play) are present there. The whole universe, however, is at the will of its creator under the control of Fate. It is not free.
नाहं राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासना;न्न गन्तुमिच्छामि कवे दुरोदरम् इष्टो हि पुत्रस्य पिता सदैव; तदस्मि कर्ता विदुरात्थ मां यथा
M. N. Dutt: O leaned man, I do not desire to engage in gambling at the command of king Dhritarashtra, for a father always Wishes to benefit his son. You are our master, OVidura, tell me what is proper (for us to do).
न चाकामः शकुनिना देविताहं; न चेन्मां धृष्णुराह्वयिता सभायाम् आहूतोऽहं न निवर्ते कदाचि;त्तदाहितं शाश्वतं वै व्रतं मे
M. N. Dutt: I am unwilling to gamble. I will not do it (gamble) unless the wicked Shakuni does not challenge me in the Sabha. If however he challenges me, I will never refuse. This is my settled and eternal vow.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा विदुरं धर्मराजः; प्रायात्रिकं सर्वमाज्ञाप्य तूर्णम् प्रायाच्छ्वोभूते सगणः सानुयात्रः; सह स्त्रीभिर्द्रौपदीमादिकृत्वा
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having said this to Vidura, Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) commanded that preparations for his journey might be soon made. The next day accompanied by his relatives and attendants and taking with his Draupadi and the women of the household he started (for Hastinapur).
दैवं प्रज्ञां तु मुष्णाति तेजश्चक्षुरिवापतत् धातुश्च वशमन्वेति पाशैरिव नरः सितः
M. N. Dutt: “As a brilliant body falling before the eye deprives the power of seeing so does Fate our reason. Man, tied as it were with a cord, submits to the sway of providence”.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ राजा सह क्षत्त्रा युधिष्ठिरः अमृष्यमाणस्तत्पार्थः समाह्वानमरिंदमः
M. N. Dutt: Having said this, the chastiser of foes Yudhishthira, went with Khattwa (Vidura) without deliberating over the summons (of Dhritarashtra).
बाह्लिकेन रथं दत्तमास्थाय परवीरहा परिच्छन्नो ययौ पार्थो भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: The slayer of hostile hosts, the son of Pritha, the Pandava (Yudhishthira) attired in. royal robes and riding on the car presented to him by the Valhika king started with his brothers.
राजश्रिया दीप्यमानो ययौ ब्रह्मपुरःसरः धृतराष्ट्रेण चाहूतः कालस्य समयेन च
M. N. Dutt: Summoned by Dhritarashtra and impelled by what has been ordained by Time and blazing with royal prosperity, the king with the Brahmanas walking before him went (from his city).
Supplementary Passages:
2.52.21 T1 G4 M1 ins. after 21: G5 (which transp. 21ab and om. 21cd), ins. after 20: *496 प्रविवेश ततो राजा पुरं नागाह्वयं ततः
स हास्तिनपुरं गत्वा धृतराष्ट्रगृहं ययौ समियाय च धर्मात्मा धृतराष्ट्रेण पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Arriving at Hastinapur he went in the Dhritarashtra's palace. The high-souled Pandava (Yudhishthira) then that Dhritarashtra,
तथा द्रोणेन भीष्मेण कर्णेन च कृपेण च समियाय यथान्यायं द्रौणिना च विभुः सह
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Kripa, the lord (Yudhishthira) also met the son of Drona (Ashvathama) he duly saluted and embraced all of them and was saluted and embraced by them in return.
समेत्य च महाबाहुः सोमदत्तेन चैव ह दुर्योधनेन शल्येन सौबलेन च वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: The greatly powerful and mighty armed (hero) them met Somadatta, Duryodhana, Shalya the son of Subala (Shakuni).
ये चान्ये तत्र राजानः पूर्वमेव समागताः जयद्रथेन च तथा कुरुभिश्चापि सर्वशः
AI Translation: And the other kings who had already assembled there, and Jayadratha and all the Kurus,
Supplementary Passages:
2.52.25 After 25ab, N (K2.3 om. the prior half; cf. v.l. 24) G3.5 ins.: *497 दुःशासनेन वीरेण सर्वैर्भ्रातृभिरेव च On the other hand, G6 ins. after 25ab: *498 अन्यैश्च धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च नृपैरन्यैः समेयिवान् After 25, G3-5 ins.: *499 समेत्य कुरुभिः सर्वैर्यथान्यायमरिंदम
ततः सर्वैर्महाबाहुर्भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः प्रविवेश गृहं राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः
AI Translation: Then, surrounded by all his mighty brothers, he entered the house of the wise King Dhritarashtra.
ददर्श तत्र गान्धारीं देवीं पतिमनुव्रताम् स्नुषाभिः संवृतां शश्वत्ताराभिरिव रोहिणीम्
AI Translation: There he saw Gandhāri, the queen, devoted to her husband, surrounded by her daughters-in-law, like the Pleiades by the stars.
अभिवाद्य स गान्धारीं तया च प्रतिनन्दितः ददर्श पितरं वृद्धं प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Surrounded by her daughters-in-law like Rohini by the stars. Having saluted Gandhari and having been blessed by her in return. He his old father (uncle, Dhritarashtra), the great lord whose knowledge was his eye.
राज्ञा मूर्धन्युपाघ्रातास्ते च कौरवनन्दनाः चत्वारः पाण्डवा राजन्भीमसेनपुरोगमाः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the monarch (Dhritarashtra) smelt his head as also those of the four other Kuru princes, the Pandavas, Bhima being at their head.
ततो हर्षः समभवत्कौरवाणां विशां पते तान्दृष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रान्पाण्डवान्प्रियदर्शनान्
M. N. Dutt: O king, seeing those best of men, the handsome Pandavas, all the Kurus became exceedingly glad.
विविशुस्तेऽभ्यनुज्ञाता रत्नवन्ति गृहाण्यथ ददृशुश्चोपयातास्तान्द्रौपदीप्रमुखाः स्त्रियः
M. N. Dutt: Commanded by the king Dhritarashtra, the Pandavas retired to rooms, adorned with gems saw and jewels. Here the ladies of the household with Dushala (Duryodhana' sister) at their head visited them.
याज्ञसेन्याः परामृद्धिं दृष्ट्वा प्रज्वलितामिव स्नुषास्ता धृतराष्ट्रस्य नातिप्रमनसोऽभवन्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the blazing and splendid beauty and prosperity of Yajnaseni (Draupadi), Dhritarashtra's daughters-in-law were filled with jealousy and became cheerless.
ततस्ते पुरुषव्याघ्रा गत्वा स्त्रीभिस्तु संविदम् कृत्वा व्यायामपूर्वाणि कृत्यानि प्रतिकर्म च
M. N. Dutt: Having conversed with the ladies, those best of men (then) went through their daily physical exercises, and they then performed the usual daily religious rites.
ततः कृताह्निकाः सर्वे दिव्यचन्दनरूषिताः कल्याणमनसश्चैव ब्राह्मणान्स्वस्ति वाच्य च
M. N. Dutt: Having performed their daily rites and decked their body with excellent Chandana and having desired to secure good luck and prosperity they caused Brahmanas to utter benedictions. Then having eaten best food, they retired to the sleeping apartments.
मनोज्ञमशनं भुक्त्वा विविशुः शरणान्यथ उपगीयमाना नारीभिरस्वपन्कुरुनन्दनाः
AI Translation: Having eaten delicious food, they entered their abodes. The sons of the Kurus slept, being sung to by women.
Supplementary Passages:
2.52.35 After 35, K4 Dn (!) D6 ins.: *500 अनन्तरं च सुषुपुः प्रीताः परपुरंजयाः
जगाम तेषां सा रात्रिः पुण्या रतिविहारिणाम् स्तूयमानाश्च विश्रान्ताः काले निद्रामथात्यजन्
AI Translation: That night passed for those who were enjoying themselves, and they were praised and rested and then gave up sleep at the proper time.
सुखोषितास्तां रजनीं प्रातः सर्वे कृताह्निकाः सभां रम्यां प्रविविशुः कितवैरभिसंवृताम्
M. N. Dutt: Having passed the day in happiness, they rose in the morning and having performed the usual rites, they entered the Sabha and were saluted by those who assembled there for gambling.